Automatic valve



(No Model.)

J. OLAPP. AUTOMATIC VALVE.

No. 440,100. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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ilNiTnn STATES ATENT @FFICE.

JOSEPH CLAPP, OF EVANSTON, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLAPP AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,100, dated November 4, 1890. Application filed October 26, 1889. Renewed October 2, 1390- Serial No. 366,829. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH OLAPP, of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Valves, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the acco mpanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is avertical sectional view of said valve and the connecting parts as it appears when closed or in its normal condition. Fig. 2 is a like view showing said valve open; and Fig. 3 is a detail view in vertical section, showing a modification of said invention.

. Like letters of reference in the diiferent figures indicate like parts.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of valves which are employed to regulate the flow of water from the supply to the distributing-pipes in automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, such as is used in warehouses and factories, commonly known as the dry-pipe system; and my object is to so con- 2 5 struct said valve that it may open automatically upon the escape of air from the distributing-pipesupon the openingof asprinklenhead, whileit is closedby the direct pressure of water against it and opened by means of the press- 0 ure of water from the service-pipe acting upon a piston of differential area and attached to the valve-rod.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more 3 5 particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, a represents that portion of the service or stand pipe connected with the source of water-supply, and which is normally filled with water, as indicated in 0 Fig. 1, while a is that part of said pipe which is connected with and becomes a part of the distributing-pipes, one of which is shown at b, Fig. 1. Between the parts a and a of said service-pipe I interpose my improved valve 5 c, which consists of a metal shell provided with interior compartments or partitions, which divide it into four chambers d, e, f, and g, which I term the induction, educt-ion, piston, and leak chambers, respectively,

the leak-chamber gbein g partially surrounded by the other three. The chamber f is of cylindrical form and contains a pistonf, rigidly attached to a rod h, which is passed into or through the chambers g d, the opposite end being arranged to move in a suitable guide, which may consist of a cross-bar, as shown at j, Fig. 1 or said rod may extend through a bore in a movable cap (1, Fig. 2,

in which case the bearing is provided with the usual packing, as indicated at d in said last-named figure.

Upon the rod h, and located within the induction-chamber d, is a valve 10 of smaller superficial area than the piston f and which is adapted to be normally seated upon a valveseat is, which closes the inlet to the leakchamber g, and normally prevents the water in the chamber (:1 from entering it, said valve being held to its seat by the direct pressure of the water in the pipe a. Tapped into the opening of the shell with which the pipe 0, is connected is a spider Z, which is bored to receive a valve-stem m, to which is attached a valve m, the opposite end of the valve-stem passing loosely through a bore in a cross-bar n, placed across the eduction-opening of the chamber g. Said valve is intended to rest normally upon a valve-seat n at the mouth of said opening. A drain-pipe 0, having a valve 0, is connected with the eduction-cham- 8c ber e. A byway p, in which is interposed a puppet-valve p, for normally closing said way, is arranged to connect the chambers d and f, the connection with latter being made between the piston f and the piston-head f as clearly shown in the drawings, and the valve 19 is arranged to close against the water-pressure in said byway. Above the valve-shell is located a chamber q, provided with a flexible diaphragm q, to which is secured a weight 0". A lever r is loosely secured to said weight and pivoted to a rigid arm r attached to the frame. A detent r upon the end of the lever serves to normally engage an arm 8, which is pivoted to a sta- 5 tionary log 8'. A set-screw s tapped through the arm 8, rests normally against the stem of the valve 19, and enables the pressure upon said valve to be regulated to prevent leakage. An air-pump t, Fig. 1, is connected by means of a pipe t with the chamber (1, and both the chamber (1 and the air-pump communicate with the distributing-pipes b and the portion a of the stand-pipe by means of a pipe i The distributing-pipes are provided with the usual automatic sprinklers, which are retained normally closed by means of fusible solder, one of which is shown at b, Fig. 1.

Upon placing the various parts in the respective positions (shown in Fig. 1) and pumping air into the distributing-pipes the diaphragm q and weight 'r are raised, and the detent r serves to hold the S in place. The chamber e is filled with water up to the line of the drain-pipe 0, (see Fig. "1,) which serves to prime the valve m. The chamber 9 is normally empty, and kept so by means of a drain-pipe u, tapped into the bottom thereof, so that any leakage of the valve is drawn off as fast as it occurs, thereby preventing its entrance to the distributing-pipes and chamber q. Upon the opening of the sprinkler b and the consequent escape of air the weight 0" falls, the lever s is released, the valve p opened, and the water permitted to flow into the chamber f against the piston f, which, having a differential area, forcesthe valve 70 open against the water-pressure in the chamber d, lifts the valve m, and passes to the distributing-pipes.

In practice I prefer to interpose a watermotor a; in the drain-pipe u, and to connect therewith a hammer o and bell 0 so that when the valve is is opened the Water rushing through the drain-pipe will serve to ring an alarm. The common valve and pistonrod h may be arranged horizontally, as in Fig. 1, or upon an incline, as shown in Fig. 2. In the former case I prefer to have the valve arranged obliquely to the valve-stem. In the latter it need not be.

It is obvious that the weight 1" and levers connecting the same with the valve in the byway may be dispensed with and adiaphragmvalve of differential area may be connected with the distributing-pipes and with the valve in said byway, so that the compressed air may serve to act. directly upon said valve. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 3, in

which the diaphragm q is inclosed within a case and is connected with the valve-stem of the valve 10', said diaphragm being arranged to work in an opposite direction upon the escape of air from the distributing-pipes from .that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. The combination, with the supply and distributing pipes of a dry-pipe fire-extinguishing system, of a valve having an induction-chamber in direct communication with the supply-pipe which is connected with a source of water-supply, an adjacent leakage chamber normally empty having an opening communicating with the atmosphere, the induction-opening to said leak-chamber being normally closed by a water-valve opening against the water-pressure, an outlet from said leak-chamber communicating with a chamber connected with the distributing-pipe, a valve for normally closing said outlet, a piston-chamber and piston of differential area connected with said valve in the inductionchamber, a byway connecting said induction and piston chambers, and means, as set forth, for normally closing said byway-valve by the pressure of air in the distributing-pipes, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the supply and distributing pipes of an automatic fire-extinguishing system, of an automatic valve having induction and eduction chambers, a normallyempty leak-chamber communicating with said induction and eduction chambers, Valves for normally closing communication between said leak-chamber and the induction and eduction chambers, a piston-chamber, a piston therein of larger area than the valve in the induction-chamber and having its rod connected with said valve, a byway connecting the induction and piston chambers, a valve for normally closing said byway against the water-pressure, and means, as specified, for releasing said valve upon the escape of air from the distributing-pipes, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with the supply and distributing pipes of a fire-extinguishing system, the former being supplied with water and the latter with air-pressure, of an automatic valve provided with the chambers 61 e f g, valves 70 m, piston f, byway 17, valve 10, a diaphragm-chamber in communication with the distributing-pipes and a source of compressed air, and a diaphragm therein in operative connection with the valve in said byway, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with the supply and distributing pipes of a fire-extinguishing systen), the former being supplied with water and the latter with air under pressure, of an automatic valve provided with the chambers 01 e f g, valves 70 m, piston f, byway p, valve 19, a diaphragm-chamber in communication with the distributing-pipes and a source of compressed air, and a diaphragm therein in operative connection with the valve in said byway, drip-pipe to, having a water-motor interposed therein in operative connection with an alarm-bell, substantially as shown and described.

V In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 16th day of October, 1889.

JOSEPH CLAPP. WVitnesses:

D. HORACE FLETCHER, J. HALPENNY.

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